A Florida man was arrested for displaying an obscene bumper sticker on the back of his truck, one that either expressed his sexual preferences, or his love for a four-legged animal.
After Dillon Shane Webb was told the sticker was “derogatory,” he claimed his freedom of expression was violated, and the deputy’s office asked if he was using his free speech to express his desire of “eating a donkey.”
Keep reading to learn why Webb was arrested over a bumper sticker!
In 2019, a Columbia County sheriff’s deputy was driving behind a pickup truck when he noticed a vulgar sticker plastered on the middle of the rear window.
Dashcam footage shows Deputy Travis English stopping his cruiser in a parking lot behind the brown pickup, operated by Dillon Shane Webb, 23, with the bumper sticker in clear view.
The letters on the sticker – printed in bold white – reads, “I EAT A**.”
In the video, the deputy approaches the passenger side of the truck and after saying, “hello gentleman,” he explains that he pulled the car over due to “the derogatory sticker” displayed on the back of his truck.
In Florida, law prohibits “any sticker, decal emblem or other device attached to a motor vehicle containing obscene descriptions, photographs or depictions.”
“How’s it derogatory?” Webb asks from inside the car.
The officer replies, “How’s it not derogatory?”
“Some 10-year-old kid sitting in the passenger seat of his momma’s vehicle looks over and sees ‘I eat a**’ and asks his mom what it means,” English says. “How is she going to explain that?”
Sniping back, the driver provides the wrong answer: “That’s the parent’s job, not my job,” Webb says before he’s asked to present his driver’s license and registration.
After stepping out of the vehicle, Webb is searched, and the deputy tells him the sticker is a “misdemeanor violation of Florida’s obscene materials law.”
“I have four kids…if my 6-year-old was to look at me and like, ‘dad what does I eat a** mean?…he’s curious…and the way [you] handled this situation, I’m not pleased with,” English said before offering Webb the opportunity to explain his sticker to the court system.
Next, the deputy suggests Webb remove one of the letters from the word “A**” to read “AS.” But Webb refused, citing his constitutional right to free speech.
A few minutes later, things take a nasty turn for Webb.
After confirming with his supervisor that he had reasonable rights within the law, English steps out of his cruiser and approaches Webb, who’s leaning against his car, looking at his cellphone.
“All right Mr. Webb. Place your hands behind your back,” Webb is told. When he asks “why?” he learns “because you’re going to jail.”
Asking “for what?” English explains that he was given “the option to take that off” the window, but he “refused.”
He was then arrested and charged with the additional offense of “resisting an officer without violence.”
‘Perverted mind’
“They’re just words,” Webb later told First Coast News. “If that’s how they feel, if they have a perverted mind, that’s on them.”
But according to Sergeant Murray Smith of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, it wasn’t just the words on the sticker that Deputy English determined was illegal.
“It was the obscene phrase depicting what the deputy thought was a sexual act, which is obscene by definition,” said Smith. “What would a reasonable citizen think? Is the guy eating a donkey or is he doing a sexual act?”
The incident captured the attention of a lot of social media users, the majority who defended Webb.
“So what if he eats donkey. What’s the big deal?” asks one netizen. Another, referring to English speaking of his child’s potential reaction to the sticker, says, “Since when are a cop’s feelings deserving of an arrest?”
“I live here and as soon as we heard he got arrested we all went and got the sticker and put it on [our] trucks,” pens a third.
Another adds, “He better keep his kids off the internet. They will see far worse than this.”
The State Attorney’s Office cited the First Amendment and the charges against Webb were dropped. Later, Webb sued for alleged violations of his First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights, but U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard of the Middle District of Florida ruled that the arrest was “arguably justified under Florida’s obscenity law,” giving the officer and his supervisor “qualified immunity,” which means they are protected from the lawsuit.
This case underscores the ongoing debate in the U.S. over free speech and its boundaries, especially around expressions some might find offensive or derogatory. It also reflects how the First Amendment remains a contentious issue, with some insisting their right to free expression is under threat, while others argue for consideration that certain messages will have on the population.
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Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Argue Publicly on the Street, Caught Swearing on Camera!
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s typically glamorous lifestyle took an unexpected turn when they were involved in a heated argument on the street, shocking fans and onlookers. The tense exchange offered a rare, unscripted glimpse into the challenges faced by one of Hollywood’s most iconic couples.
Photographers and passersby quickly captured the confrontation, with videos and images spreading across social media, showing the pair in a far more unguarded moment compared to their polished red-carpet appearances.
While public arguments between celebrity couples often make headlines, this altercation surprised many, given the couple’s usual composed image. “Seeing Jennifer and Ben fight in public reminds us that even celebrities experience the same relationship struggles as the rest of us,” commented a celebrity relationship expert, underlining the unexpected nature of the incident.
Reports suggest that the argument escalated, with both exchanging heated words and profanity. Witnesses described the scene as intense, as the couple’s frustrations boiled over in a very public setting. “Public couples are under immense pressure. It’s not unusual for tensions to rise, but when it happens in the open, it becomes a spectacle,” noted a relationship counselor, hinting at the complex dynamics in their relationship.
Social Media Reactions: Fans and Critics Weigh In
The altercation sparked a storm on social media, with fans and critics alike sharing their thoughts. Conversations ranged from concern for the couple’s well-being to discussions about the difficulty of maintaining a relationship under constant public scrutiny. “Social media shapes public opinion, and reactions to this incident reflect a mix of empathy and judgment,” said a social media expert, pointing to the broader conversation around fame and relationships.
Aftermath: How the Couple Is Handling the Situation
In the wake of the public spat, both Jennifer and Ben’s publicists acknowledged the incident but emphasized the importance of privacy while they work through their issues. “Celebrities are vulnerable after such public confrontations,” noted a public relations consultant. “The public is now waiting to see how they will respond—whether it’s through a joint statement or by remaining silent.”
Conclusion: Behind the Glamor
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s public argument is a reminder that even the most seemingly perfect relationships have their struggles. Their unscripted street fight pulls back the curtain on the complexities of love, fame, and the delicate balance celebrities must navigate in their personal lives under constant public scrutiny.
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